Chapter 228: 90: Quancheng Family Chapter 228 Under the Pomegranate Tree, Holding Scissors to Cut Paper, a Tranquil and Elegant Figur

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"You're tired."

Lin Xiyu comforted her: "Rest more, and your legs won't be swollen anymore."

"You'll get better too..."

Her female cousin held her hand, then turned to comfort her: "Your body will be cured, and you'll have a beautiful little baby."

"Mm-hmm."

Lin Xiyu and her female cousin exchanged a glance, smiling with tacit understanding.

—

Hu Nainai was 85 years old this year, her bones were clearly not as strong as before; in winter, snow made the roads slippery, she fell when going out, strained her leg, and lay in bed for over half a year before recovering.

Of Lin Xiyu's resignation this time, the happiest person was none other than Old Man.

In 2001, China's intangible cultural heritage protection work officially launched, marked by the "China Ethnic and Folk Culture Protection Project," carrying out systematic surveys and registration, with Kunqu Opera becoming the first selected item.

On October 17, 2003, the convention passed the "Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage," the first "Cultural Heritage Day" was established in 2006, and the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Intangible Cultural Heritage" was promulgated in 2011, establishing a four-level catalog system.

Hu Nainai also heard the news about intangible cultural heritage, sincerely hoping that Jinan's Quan Shui Culture Paper Cutting could also be selected as an intangible cultural heritage item, becoming a signature folk art inheritance of Jinan.

As Hu Nainai's direct senior disciple, Lin Xiyu naturally felt it was her duty and did her best to help Old Man fulfill her wish.

To apply for an intangible cultural heritage item, one first needs unique works that can catch people's eyes.

Hu Nainai's paper cutting excelled in flowers, landscapes, birds, and beasts.

Lin Xiyu discussed with Old Man, suggesting to make paper cutting come alive by including Jinan's historical figures, using paper cutting to interpret stories of famous scholars like "Er'an Culture."

Hu Nainai agreed with her proposal, personally designing patterns, while Lin Xiyu assisted from the side and calmed herself to practice paper cutting skills.

Under the Pomegranate Tree at the Old House, one could often see her holding Scissors, a tranquil and elegant figure.

Guben silently accompanied her, his eyes filled with utmost Pamper.

—

Qinglong Back Street.

Lin Xiyu came out from Hu Nainai's home, thinking that Grandma loved Braised Chicken, so she deliberately went to the stewed meat shop on Furong Street and bought a Braised Chicken fresh out of the pot.

Grandma needed wine with Braised Chicken, so she also bought a bottle of Baotu Spring Special Brew on the way, carrying them together to Grandma's home to make lunch for Old Man.

Uncle's adopted daughter, Nana, was already 9 years old, attending Qinglong Street Primary School.

The summer school was on holiday, and she wasn't idle either, helping her maternal aunt sell Clothes at the Small Commodities Market.

The Small Commodities Market was close to home; her maternal aunt didn't want her niece to eat boxed Rice outside every day, and since Lin Xiyu came to Grandma's home to cook, she let her come home to mooch Rice.

When Lin Xiyu arrived, Nana had just returned from the Small Commodities Market; the two arrived one after another and entered the door together.

"Grandma, Sister Xiyu bought you Braised Chicken again."

After entering, Nana saw no one in the living room and ran toward the backyard.

Grandma fanned herself with a palm-leaf fan, sitting under the Pomegranate Tree to cool off; hearing the shout, she smiled and wanted to stand up from the Horse Stool.

Having sat for too long, her legs were a bit numb; she swayed a few times and almost couldn't stand steady.

"Grandma, be careful."

Nana watched in alarm, hurried over, and held her.

"I'm old now, useless."

Grandma said with emotion: "Not accepting old age really won't do."

"Grandma, have you finished the Brain White Gold? I'll buy more for you when it's done."

Lin Xiyu followed closely behind, supporting her with Nana on either side back into the house.

"Not finished yet, there's still more than half a bottle."

Grandma was stingy with money and drank little; normally a month's supply, she always dragged it out for several extra days.

"I remember buying it on the 11th of last month, right?"

Lin Xiyu knew full well: "By rights it should be finished; did you drink less again? Not enough won't work—don't reduce the dosage yourself."

"I didn't reduce..."

Grandma gave a shy laugh, trying to gloss over it: "I just drink according to the instructions, half a small cup a day."

"Grandma is reluctant to drink..."

Nana, young and quite honest: "I saw it; every time it's not enough—saying a small cup, but actually just the bottom of the cup, not even reaching the lowest line."

"Grandma, isn't that right?"

Lin Xiyu showed an expression of "as expected," pretending to be displeased as she glared at Old Man.

"Is there such a thing?"

Grandma gave an awkward laugh, finding an excuse for herself: "Maybe my eyesight is blurry; I didn't see clearly."

"It's not that your eyesight is blurry..."

Lin Xiyu laughed in exasperation: "You're pretending to be confused while knowing full well; from now on, leave this to Nana—Nana will be responsible for watching Grandma every day, making sure she drinks enough."

"Okay."

Nana bared her little Tiger Teeth and chuckled, agreeing readily.

"So good."

Lin Xiyu patted her head approvingly, then turned and went to the Kitchen.

—

Lunch staple was steamed buns, with millet porridge simmered.

Lin Xiyu stir-fried two more dishes, with chicken and wine, quite abundant.

Before eating, Grandma picked up her chopsticks and first gave each of the two sisters a chicken leg.

"Grandma, no need to give me one, you eat it yourself."

Lin Xiyu and Nana almost spoke at the same time, then put the chicken legs back into her bowl.

"Grandma can't eat two chicken legs..."

Grandma looked at the two sensible and well-behaved juniors and felt very gratified.

"Nana is still growing taller, help Grandma eat one..."

Lin Xiyu went along with Grandma's thought and put a chicken leg back for her younger sister.

"Hehe."

Nana glanced at Grandma, saw Grandma did not object, and openly accepted her sister's kindness.

"Grandma, I'll drink a cup with you."

Lin Xiyu poured wine for Grandma, and poured one for herself as well.

"Good."

Having someone to drink with and talk to relieve boredom, Grandma was overjoyed, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes blooming like chrysanthemums.

Seeing Grandma laughing happily, Lin Xiyu was also genuinely happy.

"Sister, can you teach me English?"

Nana saw her sister smiling with squinted eyes, seeming easygoing, and her thoughts became lively.

"Sure."

Lin Xiyu was in a good mood and readily agreed.

"Nana said before that English was too hard and she couldn't keep up; your maternal aunt was reluctant to spend money and didn't sign her up for a training class."

Grandma had complaints about your maternal aunt's approach: "She herself only graduated from junior high and suffered from lack of education, her brain still isn't bright; in this day and age, can one not study hard? Children of us ordinary common people can only change their fate by studying well; when they grow up, relying on anyone is not as good as relying on oneself."

"What Grandma said is right..."

Lin Xiyu agreed with Grandma's words, nodding and echoing with a smile.

"My mom earns money with difficulty, I don't blame her."

Nana was very sensible and spoke up for your maternal aunt.

"How much does the training class cost?"

Lin Xiyu felt gratified for your maternal aunt.

This daughter was not raised in vain!

"600 per semester."

Nana gnawed on a chicken leg and said softly: "There's one for summer vacation too, about the same amount."

"600 for how many classes?"

Lin Xiyu asked in detail.

"Twelve classes."

Nana had a classmate attending the training class and knew it very clearly.

"600 for twelve classes?"

Lin Xiyu showed surprise: "50 per class, really not cheap."

"Mm."

The light in Nana's eyes dimmed, and she kept her head down without making a sound.

"Those who can attend training classes are children from rich families, with money in hand, able to afford it..."

Grandma couldn't bear to watch and was even more dissatisfied with your maternal aunt: "Although our family isn't well-off, we can't wrong the child."

"I'll teach Nana from now on."

Lin Xiyu smoothed things over with Grandma: "I'm idle at home anyway, tutoring Nana with her homework is fine..."

"Thank you, Sister."

Seeing her sister agree, Nana's eyes curved into little crescent moons.

"You're really not going to work anymore?"

Grandma knew she was on leave with pay retained but didn't know the inside story.

Lin Xiyu didn't want her family to worry, didn't tell them the truth, only said Guben was thinking of her health and wanted her to return to Jinan to recuperate properly.

"Not going."

Seeing Grandma bring this up again, Lin Xiyu casually brushed it off: "Work is too busy, too many trivial matters, not conducive to physical recovery."

"If you don't go, then don't go."

Grandma cared more about her health: "Recuperate well at home; a healthy body is more important than anything."

Lin Xiyu smiled and echoed: "Guben says the same..."

"Xiao Bin is a good one, good to you too..."

Grandma smiled gratifiedly and said: "You are blessed; unlike your female cousin, who at twenty-nine still has no partner; I'm almost in the grave and still have to worry about her all day, never a moment of ease."

"Lalei Jie knows her own mind."

Lin Xiyu spoke up for her female cousin: "She'll surely find a good partner; nowadays, as long as you have money, what kind of man can't you find? Older ones get snatched up, aren't there younger ones? Finding one three or four years younger than her is fine too..."

"A woman older by three years brings a golden brick."

Nana gnawed on a chicken leg and chuckled, suddenly interjecting.

"Look, even Nana thinks I'm right......"

Lin Xiyu gave her female cousin an admiring gaze.

"You two quit ganging up to fob me off......"

Maternal Grandmother laughed and scolded: "I still don't know this principle; this talk suits others, but as for your female cousin, forget it. Her personality and temper — she's not the accommodating type. Find an older one, and he can indulge her; find a young ignorant one, and they'll quarrel every three days, fight every two days, making a ruckus all day — better off not marrying at all."

"Female cousin might be thinking the same way......"

Lin Xiyu nodded solemnly.

"You just help her speak......"

Maternal Grandmother laughed angrily, knocking her forehead with chopsticks.

"Ow."

Lin Xiyu pretended to be in great pain, covering her forehead and acting coquettish: "It hurts so much, Maternal Grandmother hit me, don't love me anymore — am I still your most beloved maternal granddaughter?"

Pretend, you keep pretending!

How could Maternal Grandmother not see through her little scheme? She raised her chopsticks, feinting to knock her again.

"I don't care, I must be Maternal Grandmother's most beloved maternal granddaughter."

This time Lin Xiyu had learned her lesson; she dodged in a flash while hugging the old lady's arm.

Maternal Grandmother's chopstick-raising hand paused, her abrupt movement leaving her not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"Hehe."

Nana gnawed on a chicken leg, watching with great amusement.

——

Maternal Grandmother was old, slept little at night, and had to nap during the day.

After finishing the noon meal, Lin Xiyu helped her onto the bed to rest; the two chatted for a short while before Maternal Grandmother grew drowsy and dozed off, leaning against the headboard with eyes closed.

Lin Xiyu helped Maternal Grandmother lie down, carefully tucked in the quilt corners, and sat by the bed carefully examining her kind brows and eyes.

She was sent to Maternal Grandmother's home by her mother at eight years old; in a blink twenty years had passed. She was already twenty-eight, and Maternal Grandmother had reached a ripe old age.

Looking back now, at sixty-six, her looks and laughter were so much younger compared to now.

If only she had taken a few more photos of Maternal Grandmother back then.

Alas, the young her was ignorant, only mischievous, angering Maternal Grandmother, unable to cherish that most beautiful time.

——

"Buzz buzz."

The mobile phone vibrated slightly, pulling back her thoughts. Seeing an unfamiliar phone number, she hesitated, furrowing her brows, stunned for a moment before answering the phone call.

"Hello, may I ask if you are Lin Xiyu? I am from JN City Children's Palace......."

The other party was very polite, introducing themselves right away and explaining the purpose.

"Okay, I'll come over in a bit."

Lin Xiyu heard that foreign youths were coming for study exchange to observe paper-cutting art, and they asked her to stand in for Hu Nainai to teach the craft. She agreed without a second thought.

The two set a time, and the other party hung up satisfied.

"Sister, are you going out?"

Nana heard Sister make a phone call, looking like she was about to go out, and quietly put back the English book she had just taken from her schoolbag.

"I have something this afternoon; I'll tutor you in English tomorrow."

Lin Xiyu smiled embarrassedly, took her backpack from the clothes rack, and slung it diagonally across her shoulder.

"Okay."

Nana's little eyes brightened; she agreed obediently.

"What do you want to eat tomorrow noon?"

Lin Xiyu affectionately pinched her cheek: "Sister will buy vegetables and come over......"

"Eggplant noodles."

Nana, thinking Maternal Grandmother likes eggplant noodles, blurted it out subconsciously.

"Good, we'll eat eggplant noodles tomorrow."

Lin Xiyu didn't think much, smiling and agreeing.

The two sisters left the house together. Lin Xiyu first sent Nana to the Small Commodities Market, then hailed a taxi and headed for the Youth Palace.

——

Hu Nainai once taught children paper-cutting at JN City Children's Palace for a very long time. The ten little disciples she accepted back then have all grown into adults.

The disciples all have their own pursuits; most went to university, some have already graduated and work, scattered across the country.

Lin Xiyu also once accompanied Hu Nainai to participate in various activities at the Children's Palace. Because of the popularity of the Quan Shui Family Documentary, among her old lady's disciples, she counted as a relatively famous one.

This visiting group coming to the Children's Palace for study exchange was a batch of middle school students from Europe, numbering over a hundred.

The Children's Palace staff attached great importance to it. They called Hu Nainai, hoping her old lady would personally attend the event.

Hu Nainai was old and had difficulty moving. She recommended her most favored disciple to them.

Under Hu Nainai's guidance, Lin Xiyu's paper-cutting skill advanced by leaps and bounds. She had already received her old lady's true transmission and was the best choice to stand in for her.

Hu Nainai valued her highly. Lin Xiyu also did not disappoint her expectations. Not only her exquisite paper-cutting skill, but also a mouthful of fluent English won unanimous praise from the foreign friends.

A pair of scissors connects things; a sheet of paper-cutting ties affection.

Skill inherited for hundreds of years; Quancheng charm leaps on paper.

The exchange study activity concluded successfully. The Children's Palace person in charge personally came to the scene, warmly inviting her to continue carrying out public welfare activities in place of Hu Nainai, teaching paper-cutting to youths enthusiastic about folk culture.